PM to launch concrete construction work of Rooppur NPP Thursday

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is set to inaugurate the main concrete construction works of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project at the project site in Pabna on Thursday.

Officials said this will be the final phase of civil construction works to install a nuclear reactor, which is now being built by Russian state atomic corporation Rosatom in Russia for Bangladesh.

Science and Technology secretary Anwar Hossain said with the completion of the main concrete construction work of the project, the planned power plant will be ready for power generation.

However, other engineering works like setting up power plant equipment will be done phase by phase before 2023.

As per the project schedule, Anwar Hossain said, the first unit having 1,200 MW of the 2400 MW plant will come into operation by end of 2023 and second unit of the same capacity in the middle of 2024.

The RNPP project was undertaken by the government in 2009 and after a long discussion of over 6 years. The government initially signed a memorandum of understanding in 2013 and signed final deal with Russia in December in 2015.

Russian state atomic energy corporation - Rosatom - will build the power plant at a cost of $12.65 billion where Russia will finance 90 percent of the fund under a supplier's credit.

However, Bangladesh had to pay addition $550 million to Rosatom for feasibility and design purpose.

Rosatom said it will build the power plant through its VVER-1200 rector technology, which it claimed to be the latest in its nuclear with safety guarantee.

Rosatom has been engaged in full-fledged following the signing of the contract as it developed the site and some relevant civil constructions.

Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, the implementing agency, received the design and construction license of first unit of the plant from Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority on November 4 this year.

Officials said a large number of skilled professionals are required for the implementation, operation and maintenance of a nuclear power programme. Currently, 369 professionals are working in the project management unit.

The operating organisation Nuclear Power Plant Company will recruit and train 2,700 personnel year by year as the project progresses.